1Pero ese tiempo de tinieblas y desesperación no será eterno. Aunque pronto la tierra de Zabulón y Neftalí caigan bajo el menosprecio y el castigo de Dios, en lo futuro estas mismas tierras, Galilea y Transjordania del norte, donde están los caminos que llevan al mar, se verán llenas de gloria.2El pueblo que anda en tinieblas verá una gran luz, una luz que iluminará a todos los que moran en la tierra de amenaza de muerte.3Porque Israel volverá a ser grande, lleno de gozo como los segadores en el tiempo de la mies y como los hombres que se reparten el botín capturado.4Porque Dios quebrantará las cadenas que oprimen a su pueblo y el látigo que los azota, tal como destruyó la gran hueste de los madianitas valiéndose del pequeño grupo de Gedeón.5En aquel glorioso día de paz ya no se fabricará armamento, no habrá más uniformes de guerra manchados de sangre. Todo eso será quemado.6Porque nos ha nacido un niño, se nos ha dado un hijo y él tendrá el gobierno sobre su hombro. Estos serán sus títulos de realeza: «Admirable», «Consejero», «Dios poderoso», «Padre eterno», «Príncipe de paz».7Su siempre creciente y pacífico reinado no acabará jamás. Gobernará con perfecta equidad y justicia desde el trono de David su padre. Traerá verdadera justicia y paz a todas las naciones del mundo. Esto ocurrirá porque el Dios Todopoderoso se ha empeñado en realizarlo.
El enojo del Señor contra Israel
8-10El SEÑOR ha hablado contra el jactancioso Israel que dice que si bien nuestra tierra yace ahora en ruinas, la reconstruiremos mejor que antes. ¡Han talado los sicómoros, pero los repondremos con cedros!, dicen.11-12La respuesta del SEÑOR a su jactancia es traer a sus enemigos contra él: los sirios al este y los filisteos al oeste. Con sus fauces devorarán a Israel y aun así la ira del SEÑOR contra ustedes no estará satisfecha; todavía tiene cerrado el puño para aplastarlos.13Pero a pesar de todo este castigo no se arrepentirán ni se volverán a él, al SEÑOR Todopoderoso.14-15Por lo tanto el SEÑOR, en un solo día, destruirá a los jefes de Israel y a los profetas mentirosos.16Los caudillos han llevado a su pueblo cuesta abajo hacia la ruina.17Por eso el SEÑOR no se complace en sus mancebos, y no se apiada siquiera de las viudas ni de los huérfanos, pues todos son malvados, mentirosos de inmunda boca. Por eso es que aún no está satisfecha su ira y su puño está aún listo para aplastarlos a todos.18Él quemará toda esta maldad, estos espinos y zarzas. Y las llamas consumirán también los bosques y de sus incendios subirá una gran columna de humo.19-20La tierra está ensombrecida por las nubes negras provocadas por tal incendio, por la ira del SEÑOR Todopoderoso. Pasto de las llamas es el pueblo. Cada cual lucha contra su hermano para robarle el alimento, pero nunca tendrá suficiente. ¡Finalmente, llegarán hasta comerse a sus propios hijos!21Manasés contra Efraín, Efraín contra Manasés, y ambos contra Judá. Pero ni aun después de todo esto se satisface la ira de Dios. Aún pende sobre ellos su mano para aplastarlos.
1[1] But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.[2] (2 R 15:29; 2 Cr 16:4; Is 8:22; Is 26:15; Mt 4:15)2[3] The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (Job 3:5; Is 9:1; Lc 1:79; Ef 5:8; Ef 5:14)3You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. (Jue 5:30; 1 S 30:16; Sal 4:7; Sal 119:162; Is 26:15; Jn 4:36)4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. (Jue 7:19; Jue 8:10; Sal 83:9; Is 10:5; Is 10:24; Is 10:26; Is 10:27; Is 14:5; Is 14:25; Nah 1:13; Mt 11:29)5For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. (Ez 39:9)6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon[4] his shoulder, and his name shall be called[5] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Dt 10:17; Neh 9:32; Sal 45:3; Sal 72:7; Sal 72:17; Is 7:14; Is 10:21; Is 11:6; Is 22:22; Is 28:29; Is 63:16; Jer 32:18; Mt 28:18; Lc 2:11; Jn 3:16; Jn 14:18; 1 Co 15:25; Ef 2:14)7Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (2 R 19:31; Sal 89:4; Is 37:32; Jer 23:5; Zac 1:14; Lc 1:32)
Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression
8The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel;9and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: (Is 7:2; Is 7:5; Is 7:8; Is 7:17)10“The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”11But the Lord raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies.12The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. (2 R 16:6; 2 Cr 28:18; Is 5:25; Is 9:17; Is 9:21; Is 10:4)13The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts. (Is 1:5; Os 7:10)14So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day— (Dt 28:13; Is 19:15)15the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; (Is 3:2; Is 28:7; Miq 3:5)16for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.17Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly.[6] For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. (Gn 34:7; Sal 147:10; Is 9:12; Is 10:6)18For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. (Sal 83:14; Stg 3:5)19Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another. (Is 24:6; Miq 7:2)20They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm, (Dt 28:53; Is 8:21; Is 49:26)21Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. (2 Cr 28:6; Is 9:12; Is 11:13)